Craig James joins Family Research Council

Updated 12:50 am, Tuesday, April 8, 2014

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Texas Republican primary candidate for the U.S. Senate Craig James speaks at a press conference Thursday, May 24, 2012, in Houston. Also vying for the partyÂs nomination are Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, ex-Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and Ted Cruz. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) less

Texas Republican primary candidate for the U.S. Senate Craig James speaks at a press conference Thursday, May 24, 2012, in Houston. Also vying for the partyÂs nomination are Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, ... more

Photo: Pat Sullivan, STF

Craig James joins Family Research Council

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Craig James, the former NFL running back and television sports analyst who ran in 2012 for the U.S. Senate, said Monday he will join the conservative Family Research Council as a speaker and lobbyist focusing on religious liberty issues.

James will be announced Tuesday as an assistant to the council's president, Tony Perkins. Potential duties include lobbying, speaking and occasional work as host of the group's "Washington Watch Live" radio program.

The new post comes in the midst of James' legal battle with Fox Sports Southwest over a short-lived return to the air last fall. He appeared just once before Fox terminated him, and he has filed a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission claiming he was fired for religious reasons.

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"The task is great and the challenge is huge for those of us who are fighting for religious liberty and freedom under the Constitution," James said. "I'm not going to give up following sports. It's in my DNA. I'm hopeful I can make it part of the outreach that we will have for faith, family and freedom and the policies that I believe in."

James, who was third in the 2012 Republican Primary race for the Senate, made comments during his Senate campaign indicating his opposition to gay marriage. He says statements by the network regarding his dismissal support his belief he was fired on religious grounds.

Fox has said that James' hiring by the regional sports network was not "properly vetted" and that he was a "polarizing figure" for viewers.

James has not ruled out a return to politics but said "I don't foresee" another campaign. He described the Family Research Council post as "a great fit for me today."

"Had I not run for the Senate, I would not have had the answer for the question about the definition of marriage that got me fired by Fox and months later brought me (to his new job)," he said. "I ran for the Senate to affect policy and fight for faith, family and freedom, and I have arrived at a spot I believe will give me a chance to do that."

'Christian world view'

The Family Research Council describes its mission as "advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian world view."

"Craig has experienced the very workplace disqualification that cultural elites are seeking to impose throughout the country: expressing a politically incorrect opinion on a cultural issue, totally unconnected to his employment, is enough to get you fired," he said.